Here’s an example that will help you understand your subconscious mind. Think about the first days you learned to drive. You had to focus and be conscious of everything you did, right? Now, your subconscious handles it all for you and you are able to drive and talk on the phone at the same time. The act of driving is now being handled by your subconscious mind, while your conscious mind is focusing on your phone conversation.
Your subconscious mind is a storehouse. Your brain notices every detail of every moment in your life and stores it along with every memory, every skill and every thing you have read. That is why you want to tap into your subconscious mind to pass your exam. Just like when driving, your subconscious will help guide you from Point A (studying for the exam) to Point B (passing the exam).
People use different methods to tap into their subconscious mind: positive affirmations, visualization and hypnosis to name a few.
Here I will describe a self-hypnosis method that I used once-a-day leading up to the bar exam.
1. Get comfortably seated or lay down flat on your back.
2. Close you eyes and take a few deep breaths.
3. Focus, for a breath or two, on relaxing each part of your body starting from you toes to the top of your head.
4. Count down slowly from 10-1
5. Imagine a doorway in front of you. Walk through it and imagine you are in a peaceful place. (This could be a beach, a bedroom, anywhere you consider peaceful)
At This Point You Have Entered A Hypnotic State. Here your subconscious mind is open to suggestion. Remember to imaging and think only positive and uplifting thoughts.
6. Now say positive affirmations and visualize and feel the emotions of having passed the bar exam
Ex: Say to yourself “I am a California Bar Passer” (“A February 2012 Bar Passer” or “A first time bar passer” etc…) while visualizing, as vividly as possible, finding your name on the pass list for your bar exam
. Imagine how that would feel. Revel in it.
7. When you are finished, slowly count yourself out of the trance from 1-10, while telling yourself that you are becoming more awake and energetic with each number.
The weeks leading up to an exam are often filled with stress and anxiety. I’m sure you all ready know that a relaxed mind functions much better than a anxious and stressed mind. The more you use this method the calmer you will be as the bar exam approaches. And the easier it will be to learn and memorize the material. Come exam time you will be more prepared than you consciously realized. Your subconscious mind will make sure to make your hypnotic suggestion a reality. You are a Bar passer.